Spiritual growth and transition to an authentic life.

[tgirlamg]

Hi Julie!!

Thank You for sharing some more of yourself with us! ... All our experiences lead to where we now stand... The feeling of disconnection that came from hiding my true self from the world led me through the gauntlet of substance abuse in my younger days as well... 14 years of methamphetamine....A life so far from where I am now but still one of the building blocks that offers me perspective on how far I have come and the road ahead
 
Onward we go brave sister

Ashley

[jentay1367]

The common thread here seems to be "hope". Our reoccurring theme. That light that leads us through the tunnel of despair and into the clarity of our actualization. Its such a privilege to have metaphorically known all of you. The blessings I've known since I've engaged and accepted my truth have been pure manna.  Thank you, everyone. It's been good to take this trip with you.

[tgirlamg]

The common thread here seems to be "hope". Our reoccurring theme. That light that leads us through the tunnel of despair and into the clarity of our actualization. Its such a privilege to have metaphorically known all of you. The blessings I've known since I've engaged and accepted my truth have been pure manna.  Thank you, everyone. It's been good to take this trip with you.

Beautifully put Lisa!... Hope carries us onward

[JB_Girl]

Beautifully put Lisa!... Hope carries us onward

I can only affirm this.  Hope is the keystone through which we walk in our journey to freedom.  Supported by honesty and willingness there is nothing that the human spirit cannot transcend. (And yes I borrowed this concept from Bill Wilson)  In my morning meditation today I was reading a passage by Krishnamurti. In 1929 he wrote,  "Truth is a pathless land".  Each of us finds our own way in seeking the truth about ourselves and our world.  Fortunately we do not need to walk in isolation, nor do we need to discover every truth independently.

Yesterday in Seattle the sun was shining brightly and glistening of of Lake Washington as I looked out of my office window.  Today there is a soft rain and the hills across the lake are shrouded in mist.  Both the sun and the rain bring meaning.  Both are my teachers and lead me onward.

Namaste,
Julie

[Katya]

spiritual enlightenment is what brought me to transition, not just in a general sense but quite directly and specifically really.  Working with a great guru for many years, I did not even realize transition had already begun, not until very recently when I dared to speak aloud and discuss with my guru in very pragmatic terms and I received the most amazing loving acceptance ... I can not even begin to describe. 

I would say this is all a step or two beyond "hope" ... its more of a "knowingness" that our journey lies beyond our limited perception of "time" ... there is no concept of doubt nor fear in such a deep knowing of our true selves. 

[JB_Girl]

spiritual enlightenment is what brought me to transition, not just in a general sense but quite directly and specifically really.  Working with a great guru for many years, I did not even realize transition had already begun, not until very recently when I dared to speak aloud and discuss with my guru in very pragmatic terms and I received the most amazing loving acceptance ... I can not even begin to describe. 

I would say this is all a step or two beyond "hope" ... its more of a "knowingness" that our journey lies beyond our limited perception of "time" ... there is no concept of doubt nor fear in such a deep knowing of our true selves.

Thank You Member061817.
Namaste,
Julie

[tgirlamg]

Thank You Member061817.
Namaste,
Julie

Thank You Indeed Member061817 and Welcome to the forum!

Onward we go!!!

Ashley

[Katya]

thank you for being here!   

I don't know why, but before I stumbled upon this thread I hadn't considered that I might find others for whom spirituality is a major aspect of whatever sort of gender stuff [insert long list of all gender categories ].  It seems obvious now ... of course there would be others ... but I just hadn't even thought of the notion.
(duh silly me ) 

Your presence here is a delightful discovery and brings a great resonance to my journey.

Gratitude to hear the music that you are 

[JB_Girl]

I am sitting in an office, looking out on a misty afternoon as my work day comes to an end.  On Saturday morning I will meet up with a new friend and we will go to Chinatown to pick up some dim sum to take to Deana's ninety-two year old aunt.  I'm doing this rather intimate activity with someone who I have never met and have only spoken to on the phone a few times.  Why, I wonder, am I being given this gift of inclusion.  It is certainly not my beauty, nor is it my intelligence.  I think that what was recognized was a spirit of compassion.

Compassion is a foundation stone of transition for me.  Until I could find the spark of a compassionate nature in who I am, I could not find the courage to risk an authentic life.  Until I could find the beginnings of authenticity I could not celebrate the changes that were about to happen.  Until I could accept whatever the universe tossed my way the beauty of change was something I could neither admit nor embrace.

That I am here, and whole, and lovable is beyond the scope of what is possible for me as an individual.  But well withing the purview of what we can do as a community.  What I will be participating in on Saturday is a stepping into a community where I will be the new and possibly odd participant.  I welcome the opportunity to participate.

Compassion given, Compassion received.  We are granted that which we seek but only when we seek without prejudging the outcome.  For in a life which is appreciative of the gifts all around, authentic living is a blessing rather than a struggle.

[tgirlamg]

Compassion is a foundation stone of transition for me.  Until I could find the spark of a compassionate nature in who I am, I could not find the courage to risk an authentic life.  Until I could find the beginnings of authenticity

Compassion given, Compassion received.  We are granted that which we seek but only when we seek without prejudging the outcome.  For in a life which is appreciative of the gifts all around, authentic living is a blessing rather than a struggle.

Compassion is a big piece of the pie for me as well my sister!!! You framed it beautifully with your words! In my case, the courage came almost on the spot... The second that I realized what had always been a fuzzy dream could be made real...I saw the possibility of an authentic life at the bottom of a great cliff amongst the the jagged rocks.... I gave no thought to the rocks... Only to the chance of living a life which was truly my own!!!... I jumped!!!... Rocks are actually softer than they look!!!

Love your new avatar my friend!!! You've got STYLE!!!!

Onward we go brave sisters!!!

Ashley

[JB_Girl]

I saw the possibility of an authentic life at the bottom of a great cliff amongst the the jagged rocks.... I gave no thought to the rocks... Only to the chance of living a life which was truly my own!!!... Rocks are actually softer than they look!!!

Spot on Ashley,

If I was  not willing to be bruised then I doubt that I would have followed this path.  It is steep and it is treacherous.  For most of us the rocks are not fatal and we heal.  For some the falls kill.  Too many suffer and finally follow Hamlet's soliloquy "take arms against a sea of troubles And by opposing end them. To die, to sleep--No more--and by a sleep to say we end."  It makes me cry sometimes, but I also makes me write and speak and celebrate the victories.

The picture was taken last weekend at the Astoria Oregon Pride Festival.  Astoria is one of those surprising places where LGBTQ people are celebrated and a vibrant part of the community.  Even all steam punked out I was greeted with smiles and hugs all over town in a sea of rainbows.

Have a good weekend,   

JB

[jentay1367]

I have to agree with Ashley, JB. Your avatar is over the top awesome! To fantastic......

[JB_Girl]

Thank You Jentay

I guess I am a bit of a tart, but I have ever so much fun with playful clothing and playful people celebrating authenticity.  So far I'm managed not to get into too much trouble lol.  But this brings up something more profound and perhaps more interesting.  I am a sixty-four year old woman at play.  What is it that keeps so many of us from finding ourselves joyfully silly.  I saw an interview with John Cleese (Monty Python) not too long ago and he was celebrating his release from the bondage of polite society because of age.

I find that by being playful, I am accepted.  Yes I have been blessed by estrogen, but also by not taking myself too seriously.  I pass, not because of FFS or other surgery (I've not had anything but GCS) but because I play and chatter, and sing, and convince others to joing me in celebration. 

We as a community risk everything to become true to our dreams.  Let us celebrate that mindfully and joyfully.

Namaste,
J

[tgirlamg]

Ashley you hit another great resonance for me ... thank you ... that "treacherous first step" was for me like stepping into what seemed a total void ... nothing visible at all ... stretching out a toe to poke around for the next step it felt as though there were no ground and I would certainly plummet ...

Then a friend said something about seeing a vision of me stepping across just such a threshold and that the only way was to just go without hesitation nor fear and if I did then a bridge would materialize beneath my footsteps...

yup ... solid as rock ...     

Hi Member061817!

That moment that you shed all the fear and baggage of life and move into the unknown without hesitation... Going "all in" in the game of life is a thing everyone should experience in their lives... It's the moment dreams become reality!

In many ways, our gender issues make urgent demands of us to grow as spiritual beings. Forcing us to take off the blinders and see the true value in a life well lived... I think that is a very good thing!!!

Onward we go!!!

Ashley

[jentay1367]

Hi Member061817!

That moment that you shed all the fear and baggage of life and move into the unknown without hesitation... Going "all in" in the game of life is a thing everyone should experience in their lives... It's the moment dreams become reality!

In many ways, our gender issues make urgent demands of us to grow as spiritual beings. Forcing us to take off the blinders and see the true value in a life well lived... I think that is a very good thing!!!

Onward we go!!!

Ashley

So absolutely, unequivocally true. Least ways it has been for me. Thanks for putting it into words, Ashley. It gives it more power and value to be able to see it manifest.

[tgirlamg]

I am not sure which is the cart vs the horse ... living as a spiritual being sets me free to embrace all of my true self ... and the fact that "all of my true self" includes a bunch of gender stuff drives me all the more along that spiritual path.  It often feels like the momentum of a freight train.  Yah "onward we go" indeed, there is no stopping

Lisa!!!... Thanks so much for the sweet thoughts my friend... I think there is a lot of value in us putting this side of the journey into words that may invite exploration and reflection!

A freight train indeed Member061817!!!

I used the train analogy years ago with my therapist when he was going through the WPATH questions before writing me my surgery letter.... He came to the question about whether I had considered losing my male power in society... I told him that since I began transition, I had never felt more powerful in my life!!! It was like my life was a freight train going down the tracks and I was finally the one with the hand on the throttle!!!

Cart... Horse... Chicken ... Egg... All interwoven and what came first matters not... They are all to be celebrated, enjoyed and explored...

Onward brave sisters!!!

Ashley

[JB_Girl]

"I am not sure which is the cart vs the horse ... living as a spiritual being sets me free to embrace all of my true self ... and the fact that "all of my true self" includes a bunch of gender stuff drives me all the more along that spiritual path.  It often feels like the momentum of a freight train.  Yah "onward we go" indeed, there is no stopping"

Member061817

"A freight train indeed Member061817!!!

"I used the train analogy years ago with my therapist when he was going through the WPATH questions before writing me my surgery letter.... He came to the question about whether I had considered losing my male power in society... I told him that since I began transition, I had never felt more powerful in my life!!! It was like my life was a freight train going down the tracks and I was finally the one with the hand on the throttle!!!

Cart... Horse... Chicken ... Egg... All interwoven and what came first matters not... They are all to be celebrated, enjoyed and explored..."

Ashley


Ashley and Member061817,
You nailed it my sensei sisters.

Thank You,
Julie